Posted: February 15th, 2022

Personal and professional development

Topic:
Personal and professional development

To pursue a career as a border officer, it is important that pays close attention and commitment to personal and professional development. A border officer mainly deals with enforcing customs and immigration laws at the ports of entry. The roles played include screening visitor and returning citizens as well as any cargo for the sake of protecting the country against terrorism and illegal immigration. Continuous development of a border officer is essential because it helps in identification of skills, needs and opportunities while at the same time enabling the officer to set future goals.
A SWOT analysis is an organised, logical order of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths to assist in decision making (NCS, 2019). Such an analysis is conducted not only for personal development but also for professional aspects. Companies conduct a SWOT analysis as well, and a border officer needs to conduct such a test to identify common issues. Such a test is done due to fear of risk, increased complexity, and the sense of powerlessness due to uncertainty (Fook, 2007). For continuous development, critical reflections are vital for the sake of sustainable growth within the department.
To identify development needs, one has to consider the current strengths and weaknesses first to consider what can be done for improvement. My strengths include self-motivation, public friendliness, and adequate knowledge of carrying out diplomatic relations. These strengths seem sufficient for a border officer, considering I will interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Restrictions and requirements to get the job include passing a medical exam, having a good level of fitness and passing security and background checks. Weaknesses include risk-taking, often distracted and often procrastinating. These, however, can be overcome or dealt with as I continue to gain experience. Self-education will also be necessary to turn weaknesses into strengths.
Before one gets into a career, it is always necessary to identify the development opportunities that meet current and future defined needs (Fook, 2017). Qualifying as a border officer will require either apprenticeship, applying directly or through a graduate training scheme. The activities involved will include checking passports, writing case notes, searching people and luggage, and showing up in court as a witness. The border officer post holds several opportunities for me, which include real-life experience and career sponsored training programs. I believe that the training plus experience will improve my personal and professional development within the sector. The threat I mainly face may be handling violent visitors or returning clients who may pose a danger to my life. Hopefully the safety measures in place in case of such a threat will hold up. However, the benefits surpass the risks as the opportunities offered will help in achieving my short-term and long-term goals. Short-term include improving performance metrics while long term includes breaking into management.
In conclusion, to become a border officer requires a lot of effort in achieving the requirements. Once one gets the job, there is also the need for continuous development, considering that the world is ever-evolving. A border officer must educate him/herself on higher education if they hope to maintain their job or climb up the ladder. Assessment of personal and professional skills is the first step to identifying the areas that need more attention than others. Choosing a career that offers advancement opportunities is also wise since it ensures continued education and experience.
References
Fook, J. (2007). Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. Open University Press. Berkshire, England
NCS. (2019). Skills Assessment. Retrieved from https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/skills-assessment

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